This Sunday, this Father’s Day, as our diaconal postulant preached on mustard seed faith, we prayed our thanksgiving for our fathers, and those who have served as models of fatherly love towards us. We prayed for those wounded by the presence or absence of their own fathers. We prayed for those whose hopes for fatherhood have been frustrated. We prayed for fathers and children separated by death, distress, and the inhumanity of man to man. We prayed that we might be delivered from becoming instruments of that separation.

Then, more than a score of us signed a letter to send to our senators tomorrow.

Dear Senators Brown and Portman,

I am an Episcopal priest in Ohio, serving a congregation full of Democrats, Republicans, Independents, and others, of Americans and immigrants, citizens by birth and naturalization.

As a Christian I am bound by the Law to love God and to love my neighbor. As an Episcopalian I have promised to respect the dignity of every human being. As an American citizen, I am horrified that our government is using the forced removal of children to punish and intimidate parents who would seek asylum, refuge, or simply a home in these United States. Such practice is antithetical to human dignity, human rights, and God’s intention for the human family.

As a voting constituent, I urge you to do all in your power to end this cruel and unusual policy as a matter of urgency. For example, I understand that you have such an opportunity in S.3036, a Bill to limit family separation.

“Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.” Luke 18:16